I’m not particularly a business person, though I do have my own little business that I will hopefully take much farther as the years pass (and the kids get older). I’m definitely not an entrepreneur, at least in the sense of what I consider one. But, I love learning new things, gaining new information on anything and everything, and I am a HUGE fan (my husband also) of Shark Tank.

I was excited to receive “The Power of Broke” by Daymond John because I definitely admire where he started and how far he’s come in business and I definitely take things he says on Shark Tank as words of wisdom (along with all the others).

Chapter One describes what THE POWER OF BROKE actually means and how Daymond John has used that in his business career. He also explains his SHARK point basics which are important points he suggests applying to all types of business, not matter what it is.

Chapters Two through Six are personal stories of successful business people who Daymond John says have used THE POWER OF BROKE from the very beginning of starting their businesses to the apex of them now. Though the types of businesses/careers may be so far apart (food, music, fashion, sports), the principles are still the same and their drive and hunger for success have all pushed them to where they are now.

Within the stories, you will find many important Power Facts and Power of Broke Principles that you can apply to your own budding business or career, but nothing and no one can force the personal drive and hunger you MUST have to get to where the most successful entrepreneurs have gotten.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for inspiration and insight into what it takes to start a business or to take the next steps to growing one. It definitely isn’t a step-by-step guide in the traditional sense, but the information you will glean from this is priceless and more information is always better than no information.

Not too long ago I reviewed a book by Mallika Chopra about living your life with intent and discovering why you are here on Earth. What is your purpose? And not just your lofty ideas about how famous, well-known, or successful you’d like to be, but what actually makes you feel contented and fulfilled in the full sense of the meaning. Now, that may mean you do become famous for one thing or another or it just may mean you are raising your children to be pillars of this world or that you inspire others daily.

This book, “Find Your Extraordinary” by Jessica Dilullo Herrin, is along the same lines but focused on the business aspect. The two books are very much connected in message but if you really want to focus on the business side, this book will be a great addition to your reading list.

Throughout the whole book, you will be reading Jessica’s journey from the beginning of her life (literally her birth year) and continue as she moves through school and then becomes an entrepreneur with many successful businesses. Sprinkled in her stories are stories of others who have inspired her and who will show the reader the lessons that she is teaching to us.

I appreciate that in each chapter she has a page or two devoted to a summary of sorts of what she’s speaking about. I find these little guides helpful because it allows the author to story-tell how they really came about these ideas or lessons and it gives the reader a nice summed up version should they need to go back at any time. Plus, if you missed something in the story, you can re-read it without the narration.

While I have read a few business books, I like that this one isn’t and doesn’t claim to be a how-to guide to starting your own company or owning your own business. It’s more of a guide to help you find out what you are really meant to do, not just what you want to do. I’m sure that’s not popular with the set of people that want success the easy way (what Herrin calls the unicorn farm) and, as we all know, there’s no such thing. For them, this book isn’t it. You won’t find such a guide.

But if you’re really looking to sort out all your ideas in your head and get a clear picture of a path you can take to get to where you know you’d like to be, then you can definitely learn from her book. It will require hard work, sacrifices, some luck and some gambling, and even more self-confidence (lone eagle confidence to be exact), but if you’re willing, it’s possible.

The main things I’ve picked up from this book (which I really needed to read) are that anyone can be successful. You don’t have to come from a particular background, geographical location, have gone to an Ivy League or even university-type college, be in your twenties, or even single or without children. Some of those things, of course, make life easier and give you opportunity without a lot of sacrifice, but there are and will always be sacrifices.

You must find your why. Sounds easier than I think it really is, but this is all-important. Another big aspect is optimism. I think she had the best definition of optimism that I’ve ever read. Instead of optimism being the idea of positivity no matter what (I feel like I’m not optimistic because this is a majority of people’s definition of it), it is giving something your best shot with a sound mine (not being an idiot about things) and if it doesn’t work out or isn’t working out, move on and try something else. You are being positive in that you aren’t quitting because it didn’t work one way and so you’ll try again. It’s not about being blind to reality, but it’s about continuing on even if you weren’t rewarded the 20 other times you tried something.

Finally, though there are many points she makes, the biggest one to me is to not listen to the naysayers. For every one person who tells you that you can do it, there will be 100 who tell you the opposite or even go as far as to tell you to not even try because it’ll never happen. If you listen to these people, you won’t even give yourself a chance and that is the saddest part of all. So if you are feeling like you’ve let the naysayers get under your skin and you want to shoe them all away, pick up this book and be prepared to be inspired.

Like this:

My family has always said I’m a dreamer. People I meet have always questioned (and been confused) how my two careers in life could be so different (pastry chef, formerly, and registered veterinary technician currently). I’ve always wondered why I felt the need to keep on searching for that “thing,” that “feeling.” What do we all need to feel content, fulfilled, happy? Will this book lend some insight to these questions?

As the Introduction to Wellth, by Jason Wachob, explains, “whether we like it or not, everything is connected: our minds, our bodies, and our environment. The mind and body are not separate, they’re one…If we’re out of touch with the mind or the body, then we’re not truly healthy because we’re disconnected from the self.” (Pg.5)

A little bit of self-help, a lot of common sense, and a new way of looking at things is the emphasis. What your neighbor does may or may not be what you need and vice versa. Life isn’t a “one size fits all” sort of thing. And what worked when you were twenty or thirty or forty may not be what you need now!

The book is divided into sections based on different aspects of life that people seek help with: eating, moving, finding a fulfilling career, love, etc. Each is filled with helpful information on why and how to improve these things, but the stand-out theme is to do what’s right for your being and what’s best for your health (physical, mental, spiritual, all of it). The suggestions aren’t difficult and don’t require too much except the willingness and the want to make yourself better for yourself, no one else.

If you’re looking to change one or all aspects of your life, you’ll find at least one gem of insight that you can start out with. If you’re more motivated, you can improve as many aspects as you’d like.

The author uses his own examples of what he’s gone through to explain the general idea of each section, but you should insert your own story. This is your journey and your life and it’s all within your control, whether it always feels that way or not. This book is positivity without unrealistic expectations or goals for its readers.

If you’re not quite satisfied, longing for more, not feeling all there, tired, feeling powerless, know you could be happier, or anything short of fulfilled and content, I recommend that you give this a read. Unless you’re completely closed off to help and guidance, you’ll benefit. Every day is a new day and every morning is a chance to start fresh.

Isn’t saving money hard? Even for a seasoned saver such as I, I still find it challenging. But last year, I found this helpful chart and a 52-week challenge.

Basically, you deposit money into your savings account weekly, starting at $1 and increasing by $1 each week. At the end of the year, you should have an extra $1378 in your account. If financially able, I recommend that you double each amount – starting at $2, $4, $6, etc. It starts to get a little more difficult toward the end of the year, especially when Thanksgiving and Christmas roll around and there are great deals and lots of Christmas presents to buy, but you will have double the amount.

In 2013, with the money I had saved, I was able to buy concert tickets to see the Zac Brown Band at the Hollywood Bowl for Jason’s birthday. He has been trying to see them for years now, so I’m glad I was able to give him that special gift. The seats were pretty darn great too! This year, I will be strictly saving the money for savings purposes.

You will find the chart from Pinterest below. It makes it much easier to print it out so you can cross out each week after you make a deposit, but whatever works for you, stick to it!